The goal of every brand is to gain popularity and renown so that even those who have no interest know what it is. This is true of Botox, which has become not only a cultural norm but a household term. Everyone knows what it is, whether they use it or not.
Another reputable cosmetic injectable brand that is slowly making its way up the ranks to a similar status is Juvederm, a dermal filler that we are proud to offer at Galanis Plastic Surgery, in Beverly Hills, CA. Let’s compare Botox vs. Juvederm.
How Is Juvederm Different From Botox?
Both Juvederm and Botox are anti-aging medications that temporarily treat and erase the signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss. However, even though these are both anti-aging injectables that work to accomplish similar goals, they are not the same. Botox is a neurotoxin that works by temporarily disabling the facial muscles to erase lines and wrinkles. Juvederm is a collection of dermal fillers that works by adding volume, treating lines, and removing facial wrinkles.
Another way that these two cosmetic injectables are different is that Botox is a single product, while Juvederm is a collection, a family of dermal fillers, that includes many different formulations, each of which are specifically designed to target a different area of the face.
Botox: A Temporary Solution for Dynamic Wrinkles
You’re expressive, and that’s ok. You raise your eyebrows when you talk or when you’re excited, and that’s perfectly normal. But, those lines don’t need to stay there. There is a solution, and that’s where Botox comes in. Botox is a temporary solution for those dynamic wrinkles that form as a result of your dynamic movements. When you laugh, cry, frown, raise your eyebrows, or smile, your skin moves as a result of muscular movement, and wrinkles inevitably form.
That’s where a Botox treatment provides a solution. Botox will treat the root cause of those wrinkles and temporarily erase them, giving you the gift of youth for at least twelve weeks, before another round of injections is needed to maintain results.
What Is It?
Botox is an FDA-approved neurotoxin that, when injected into the muscle, temporarily paralyzes that muscle so that it cannot contract. It works at the muscular level and keeps the muscles in a state of rest as a means of helping lines and wrinkles disappear.
How Does It Work?
Botox works by treating the root cause of wrinkles and lines. Many of the lines and wrinkles that develop as a result of aging are called dynamic wrinkles. They stem from dynamic movements that include anything expressive, like smiling, frowning, laughing, crying, and raising the eyebrows. As the aging process occurs, the body produces less collagen and elastin and as a result, the skin can’t bounce back as quickly from the stretching and moving.
Lines that once disappeared when the skin was at rest begin to linger and take a permanent position on the face. These are the lines that you see when you look in the mirror, that make you look and feel older than you are, and drain you of your confidence. By disabling the muscle, Botox allows the skin to rest and when there is no dynamic movement, there is no more expression and those lines and wrinkles disappear. You are left with smooth, wrinkle-free skin.
What Does It Treat?
Botox is an FDA-approved neurotoxin that will treat moderate to deep forehead lines, wrinkles that form at the outer corners of the eyes called crow’s feet, and frown lines that develop between the eyebrows.
What Happens During Treatment?
During treatment, your injector will administer a series of injections (mainly made of botulinum toxin) into the area of treatment with an ultra-fine needle. While these injections are typically very manageable, additional measures can be taken upon request to ensure the most comfortable experience possible. You can rest assured that when you choose a skilled, experienced injector like Dr. Galanis, you will get the best results possible and have the most comfortable experience.
When Do Results Appear?
Most patients begin to notice results from their cosmetic injections within two to three days, with full results appearing by the end of the week of treatment. Results continue to improve in the weeks following your appointment as the skin has a chance to rest and wrinkles begin to smooth and eventually disappear.
How Long Do Results Last?
Typically, Botox results last approximately twelve weeks but can last shorter or longer, up to six months, based on how quickly your body metabolizes the ingredients in Botox. Once you notice that your results are beginning to diminish, you can schedule a follow-up treatment to maintain your wrinkle-free results.
Is There Any Downtime?
Cosmetic injectables do not require downtime, and this is true of Botox as well. You can resume your normal daily activities immediately following treatment. However, there are some specific aftercare instructions that you need to follow for the best results. Immediately following treatment, you need to avoid extreme exercise and strenuous activity. You should also avoid alcohol consumption for 24 hours.
Am I a Good Candidate?
If you have moderate to deep-set lines in your forehead, around the corners of your eyes, or between your eyebrows, you are most likely a candidate for Botox injections. The best way to determine if you are a candidate for Botox injections is by scheduling an initial consultation. During this consultation, we will review your health history, discuss and analyze your problem areas, and help determine if this is the best treatment for you.
Juvederm: A Temporary Solution for Volume Loss and Lines
Unlike Botox, Juvederm is not a neurotoxin. It is a collection of dermal fillers. Each of the different formulations within this family of fillers is designed to target and treat a different area of the face. It does not address dynamic wrinkles formed by dynamic, repetitive muscular movements but instead works in the area between the dermis and the epidermis to add volume to correct volume loss. Both of these cosmetic injectables can be used simultaneously for beautiful results.
What Is It?
This dermal filler is a crystal clear gel. It is primary composed of a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally produced by the body, but as the aging process occurs, the body begins to produce far less of this substance. This leads to mid-facial volume loss, lines, and wrinkles in different areas of the face.
How Does It Work?
The dermal fillers within this collection are administered, like Botox, with an ultra-thin needle into the problem area. They inject these hyaluronic acid fillers into the space that exists between the dermis, the deeper layer of the skin, and the epidermis, the top layer of the skin. These injections work to plump and hydrate the skin from the inside out, resulting in volume and hydration. Wrinkles and lines disappear and you are left with a more youthful appearance.
What Does It Treat?
The different collections within this family of dermal fillers can treat and correct many different signs of aging that appear on the face. There are formulations that treat the cheeks, lines, and lips. The results that stem from different formulations last for different amounts of time.
Treating the Cheeks
The most attractive cheeks are not hollow, but instead, are plump and youthful. The Voluma XC formulation is most often used to correct volume loss and add that volume back to the cheeks. It can address the fine lines and wrinkles that develop in that area as well, and results can last up to two years with optimal treatment.
Treating Facial Lines
The Vollure XC formulation is most often used to treat moderate to severe lines and wrinkles that form on the face. Results last up to eighteen months with optimal treatment. The Ultra Plus XC formulation also treats facial lines and folds, including nasolabial folds that develop on the face. This formulation may also be used in the lips and results tend to last anywhere from three to six months.
Treating the Lips
The Ultra XC formulation is designed to augment the lips. Results last anywhere from three to six months. If you want to add natural, subtle volume to your lips, or treat the perioral lines that form vertically around the mouth, the Volbella XC formulation will do just that. It also can be injected beneath the eyes as a way to remove the hollow appearance that causes dark circles. Results last up to one year with optimal treatment.
When Do Results Appear?
Unlike the results from a Botox cosmetic that takes a few days to develop, the results from these different dermal fillers are immediate. You don’t have to wait to see results, but your results will continue to improve in the days following treatment.
How Long Do Results Last?
The different Juvederm formulations last for different amounts of time, based on which formulation is used. You can expect to enjoy results anywhere from three months to two years based on which injectable treatment is used. These dermal fillers provide long-lasting results, yet they are also temporary. Once your results wear off, your face will return to its pre-injection state. You must return for follow-up treatments in order to maintain your results.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Have you experienced volume loss that has left your face looking hollow and aged? Do you have lines and wrinkles that have resulted from drooping skin? Do you want to address the vertical lines around your mouth or augment your lips? Have your lips thinned due to aging, or they are just naturally thinner than you would prefer? If you can answer yes to any of these questions, you may be a candidate for one or more of these Juvederm injectables.
The best way to determine whether one or more of these formulations are right for you is to schedule an initial consultation. During this appointment, we will discuss your concerns and analyze your problem areas to determine which of these formulations will best meet your aesthetic goals and give you the results you are looking for.
FAQs
Which is more expensive, Botox or Juvederm?
The cost depends on factors such as the surgeon you choose, the specific product used, and the amount needed for your desired results. On average, Juvederm costs around $600 per injection. Botox is less expensive per unit, but depending on the treated area, you may need up to 20 units.
Which lasts longer, Botox or Juvederm?
Botox typically remains effective for around three to four months before needing a repeat treatment. In contrast, Juvederm Voluma lasts much longer, with results generally lasting between twelve to eighteen months.
Should you get Botox or Juvederm first?
Should you get Botox or Juvederm first?Your provider might suggest starting with one cosmetic treatment before adding the other, depending on the outcome. Often, it’s beneficial to relax the muscles with Botox first and then follow up with filler treatment about two weeks later.
What should you avoid after Botox and Juvederm?
Refrain from touching or rubbing the injection site for 2-4 hours after getting your Botox or Juvederm injections. Avoid exercise and sweating for the rest of the day, and do not lie down or lean forward for 2-4 hours. Minor bruising at the treated site may occur but is temporary.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
Whether you have fine lines and wrinkles or hollowing due to volume loss, or you have dynamic wrinkles on your face from expressing, you don’t have to let those lines define you.
There is a solution, and we will help you reach your aesthetic goals, whether that’s with dermal fillers like Juvederm, neurotoxins like Botox, or a combination of both of these cosmetic injectables.
Contact us today at Galanis Plastic Surgery, in Beverly Hills, CA, and schedule your initial consultation.
